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Weekly Gameplan: Struggling Terps Face No. 1 Ohio State

By Brandon Austin

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Oct 3, 2015; Bloomington, IN, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Cardale Jones (12) walks off the field after defeating the Indiana Hoosiers at Memorial Stadium. Ohio State defeats Indiana 34-27. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

Just five games into the season, the Maryland Terrapins are reeling. Sitting at 2-3, the Terps are in desperate need of a win, but it may take a miracle for that to happen this week as they are set to do battle with the Ohio State Buckeyes, the No. 1 team in the country. Here’s the skinny on this Big Ten conference matchup.

Game Details:

When: Saturday Oct. 10 @ 12 p.m.

Where: Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio

How to Watch: Big Ten Network, BTN2

Opposing Players to Watch

Jones has arguably the strongest arm in college football and is very agile for his size. He has struggled at times this season, but opposing quarterbacks have really exposed the Terps’ secondary this season. Jones is the best signal-caller Maryland has faced this season and he poses a threat with his arm and his legs.

Nobody wants to face this guy. Elliott went on an absolute tear to close out last season and has picked up where he left off, as he is making a strong case to win the Heisman Trophy at season’s end. Maryland hasn’t been awful against the run, but they also haven’t faced a beast like Elliott, who also has the privilege of running behind one of the best offensive lines in the nation.

Sep 26, 2015; Columbus, OH, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes defensive lineman Joey Bosa (97) lines up versus the Western Michigan Broncos at Ohio Stadium. Ohio State won the game 38-12. Mandatory Credit: Joe Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports

Bosa is projected by many to be the No. 1 or No. 2 pick in the 2016 NFL Draft. There’s plenty of reason for that. He’s an animal. Bosa possesses brute strength and deceptive athleticism. He’s a matchup nightmare for opposing offensive linemen. The Terps will have their hands full trying to contain him. There’s no way they’ll completely stop him.

The sophomore is a very talented player, but he’s also prone to mistakes. He has underperformed thus far this season, but matching up against a struggling quarterback, he very well could come out of this game with at least one pick. Look for him to bother the young Terps receivers all game long.

Three Things to Watch:

1. Can Maryland slow Elliott?

The answer to this question is probably no. But, if the Terps want to have even a remote chance of pulling off the upset, that’s what they’ll need to do. Sure, Elliott will break some long runs. The defense has to bend, but not break, however. It’s a tall task to ask of a defense without elite talent, but I guess crazier things have happened.

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2. How many interceptions will the Terps throw?

It’s still uncertain who will be starting at quarterback for Maryland on Saturday, but one thing that is for certain is that they’ll be in for a long day. Caleb Rowe is giving the ball way to opposing defenses at a record pace. He’s already at 12 through five games. Could he possibly be thrown into the fire again?

3. Will Likely vs. Braxton Miller

Likely and Miller are two of the most dangerous players in the country with the ball in their hands. Both players had fast starts to the season, but the hype has subsided. Both are big-time playmakers for their respective teams. The Buckeyes haven’t quite figured out how to use Miller, but we should see him lined up against Likely at some point on Saturday.

Prediction:

The Terps are huge underdogs in this game. Could this be a trap game of sorts for the Buckeyes? Maybe, but nothing really points to Maryland being able to pull off the upset. Ohio State hasn’t been as impressive as most people would like, but they are still far and way better than Maryland. The Buckeyes drubbed the Terps last season. Sad to say, it could be worse this time around.

Ohio State 51, Maryland 17

Next: Randy Edsall to Fired by the Weekend

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